ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- USA Swimming announced this week (Tuesday, June 10) that incoming University of Michigan swimmers Hannah Moore and Clara Smiddy were chosen to represent the United States at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (Aug. 16-28) in Nanjing, China.

With only three women nominated to the swimming roster, future Wolverines hold two of the coveted spots. The United States Olympic Committee must approve the full roster for all sports, and that announcement is expected later this month.

Smiddy is a current member of the US Junior National Team, and has had a successful season swimming for her club and high school team. She took first in the 200-meter backstroke at the Arena Grand Prix at Mesa (April 25), and won the 100-yard backstroke and set a new meet record (51.75) at the USA Swimming Speedo Winter Junior National Championships (Dec. 13, 2013). Smiddy won the 2013 Florida state championship in the 100-yard backstroke at 52.94 -- a new state record -- and took the title for the 200-yard IM as well.

Internationally, Smiddy competed for the US at the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships where she took home three bronze medals. Smiddy swims multiple events, including freestyle, backstroke and the 200-IM.

Like Smiddy, Moore competes in several specialties including distance freestyle, backstroke and individual medleys. Within the past few months she won the 500-yard freestyle at the USA Swimming Junior National Winter Nationals (Dec. 11), and set a new North Carolina state record in the 500-yard freestyle at the 4A state swimming championships (4:40.98). With that state crown, Moore became a five-time state champion in North Carolina -- she also claimed the 100-yard backstroke and 500-yard freestyle as a junior and the 200-yard IM and 500-yard freestyle as a sophomore. She also took fifth in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2013 Long Course Junior Nationals.

Nominated athletes were selected based on the world rankings of times posted in Olympic events at one of six meets between July 2013 and May 2014. The swimming portion of the Youth Olympic Games will take place Aug. 17-22 at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center.

Smiddy and Moore are part of a heralded incoming class of Wolverines that also includes swimmers Gillian Ryan, Emily Kopas, Carolyn McCann and Gabby DeLoof, and diver Juliette Corboy. Ryan and Smiddy are ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in the incoming class of 2014 by CollegeSwimming.com. Moore (18), McCann (39) and Kopas (50) are each represented in the top 50.